Every Indian who can afford has domestic help and almost all of them treat them like slaves. Education, money and even an exposure to outside world has not helped Indians. This person in MEA should be behind bars and not sitting in the Ministry.

3:11 pm February 24, 2012

ssk wrote:

As an Indian, who has spent a few years in Europe, I can say that India is at nadir of personal respect and culture. Countries like India have not evolved completely. Indian diplomats are trained in govt style of working. Goverment treats poor Indian people worst than dogs in Europe.

Because of this we have such cases. A long term solution is that for countries like India, developed countries take interest in their governance. India had grown under British rule, and has also grown when IT BPOs ruled by developed world came there. Self governance concepts need to be reworked for developing nations like India.

7:51 pm February 24, 2012

Reason wrote:

Why is MEA worrying about this non-issue? The courts in the US are fair and independent. If the maid is right this so called excuse for a diplomat will get her dues. If the maid is wrong we will all know the truth anyways. Chill out and focus on doing something for the country rather than your owns.

10:36 pm February 24, 2012

sagarika wrote:

NO servant, helper or nanny lasts unless you treat him or her really well. Yes, most employers were poor themselves til fairly recently and yes the terms could not be lucrative or good. My Mumbai maids employed maids to manage their homes/babies! Imagine the terms.

Check older US or European movies where the help is treated disgustingly before you vent about Indians: not that that absolves any one. Please understand that most employers were themselves sleeping on carpets. Also few households would need work done continuously for so many hours! While I am entirely sympathetic to and supportive of any poor, down trodden person, this story, like the terrible Sabhaney story, reeks of maids trying to use US laws and ignorance to make some money. BTW, I have employed good and bad servants in India, US, UK, Lebanon, Africa, etc. and some still visit me.

Our servants in the UK ran off with Bulgari earrings, etc. In India everyone I know works very hard to educate their helpers and their kids, find them jobs, see they learn basic manners, etc. My family has sent at least 6 to college, any amount to driving school, paid for computer lessons/ diplomas, etc. So have those of my friends, it is common to help them. Will disputes arise ? Of course.

Does ssk think countries like the US which got civil rights fairly recently and still cant pass the ERA or France which drained and looted Haiti, etc. as 'evolved'? Or is the internet just a forum to hate India by those who benefited most by becoming middle class due to gov subsidized colleges?

4:28 am February 25, 2012

Victor wrote:

he problem is that the consulate staff is paid a small amount of stipend (a couple of thousand dollars/month) along with the cost of their home. This stipend is supposed to cover their day to day living expenses. A person earning $20/hour for 40 hours can not afford to pay the minimum wage per US standards for a live-in help. The wages they pay are consistent with what the worker would get in India (INR 5000-6000/month+boarding/lodging).

Frankly, I agree with the consulate. The worker had no problem working for them for three years, but just before she was to go back to India, she goes and files a complaint. Many evangelical groups are very active in the Nepali community in the US, and sponsor them for Asylum. While the intentions of the worker's right groups are noble, the worker will now get an Asylum based Green Card because she will now claim the risk of government persecution if she goes back to India.

And once you review the complaint with a cooler head, the oddities become more obvious. The typical consulate employee lives in a small New York sized apartment, and will spend 9-10 hours outside the home. Their domestic help acts as the house-keeper. Going by a strict interpretation of US workers' law, she is working whenever she is awake but for most of the day, she is alone in the home, taking care of household chores. So while the "made to work 16 hours" creates a very negative picture, the reality is quite different.

I also found that claim of "feeling uncomfortable giving a massage" a bit odd. A female worker giving a back-rub to another female is typically not something which will make someone from the sub-continent "uncomfortable". It reminds me of Western attitudes, like the Norway Child Protection Services claiming that a three year old sleeping with his father will lead to "child abuse".

While i hope that the case will be investigated fully by the appropriate Indian agencies, I find the comments of posters of Indian origin quite depressing. Currently there are two Italian marines in the custody of Kerala government for killing two fishermen. In Italy there are campaigns being run to boycott Indian goods to get the killers back. But Indian posters have no problems condemning other Indians, simply because some American judge made a ruling, as if they can not be influenced and do not have any ulterior motives.

7:34 am February 25, 2012

Talwar wrote:

This is a great victory for people like Shanti and hopefully a sign of more to come for Indians like Malhotra. It underscores the sole reason why India is "emerging"--an army of cheap, exploited labor. Their flagship corporations have thrived only in non-competitive environments--their IT companies exploit visa laws to gain advantages. For those of you who romanticize India, come to the country and mingle with the meanest people in the world. Absolutely no civic virtue--India does not belong at any world table. The sad truth is that Malhotra will probably get off, just like Modi the murderer.

8:05 am February 25, 2012

sunny wrote:

There are three parties who are either stupid or just plain dumb. In the end result, its us-indo relations that suffers the most. The first unwise party are diplomat themselves, as they should better know that the treatment of domestic help in America should be par with American standards and not with Indian standards. Second culprit are domestic help themselves, who take advantage of the situation by their dramas for pure motive of money. Finally, the court system in USA, which by default, promotes drama and conflict, ultimately damage the relationship of two great countries.

3:25 am February 26, 2012

Reader wrote:

She should be dismissed immediately.

1:18 am March 10, 2012

gore lama wrote:

hey what a great news. i know there so many problem. why not given full payment. salary is low just per month 500 doller or full time work no holiday. little be food no any time table duties. how can she manege own family in nepal ya india. sponcer just usa visa show the papper i give u 1500 us doller per month or food medical invest. why sow the papper 8 hrs ur duty. bt is all r foolish agriment dcc. plz her given to law.

1:20 am March 10, 2012

gore lama wrote:

plz her give right justic law

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